Most Overrated Players in the 2010 NFL Draft

Overrated

Taylor Mays (safety, USC)
-Has unmatched athletic ability at his size. Measured in at the combine at over 6-3 and ran in the low 4.4s in the 40 yard dash. The typical case of a guy who looks better off the field then he does on the field. Mays is below average in coverage which will lead to his downfall at the NFL level. With all his speed, he plays the game much slower then his 40 time would indicate. Does not do a good job at reading quarterbacks (only 2 interceptions in the last 3 years.) Overall he just looks very uncomfortable covering the back end of the field. Before the year started he was battling Eric Berry to be the first safety off the board and now he may not even be a first rounder. Some scouts want to move him to linebacker, which speaks volumes about what some teams think of his ability to play safety. Should be a 3rd/4th round pick but will go much higher.

Tim Tebow (quarterback, Florida)
-Certainly has the ability to be a star in the NFL (think of a Ben Roethlisberger that keeps it in his pants) but must overcome a lot of obstacles. He is arguably the greatest player in the history of college football but he is the quintessential developmental prospect quarterback. He has virtually no experience taking snaps under center, he played in a wide open spread offense under Urban Meyer (the same system that former #1 overall pick Alex Smith came from), and he has had to overhaul his throwing motion. He has off the charts intangibles that will help him along his upcoming journey but he is going to be over drafted. As it stands right now he is being viewed as a early 2nd round pick with an outside chance at being selected in the late 1st round. When a team drafts a quarterback that high they are expecting him to be their starter for the next 10 years. Tebow would be better suited to be drafted in the early to mid 3rd round because he is so far off from contributing on an NFL field.

Colt McCoy (quarterback, Texas)
-Another highly decorated college quarterback that will be drafted higher then he should be. He won more games then any quarterback in the history of college football and his college success was astounding. However, his ability at the next level leaves much to be desired. He stands at only 6-1 and weighs a light 215 pounds. Has an average arm at best and like Tebow, he played exclusively out of the shotgun in college. Rarely threw the ball downfield in the Texas offense. Many reference Drew Brees as an example of a small quarterback who has become great but Brees is the exception, not the rule. For a quarterback who will be drafted at the top of the 2nd round, McCoy is short on talent and ability. He is better suited to be drafted in the 3rd or 4th round.

Bruce Campbell (offensive tackle, Maryland)
-A combine wonder. He was the most impressive offensive linemen at the combine but on tape he is a 4th round pick at best. He has already been linked to the Oakland Raiders which isn't surprising considering their history of drafted physical specimens that can't play football. He seems to lack the fire and mean streak that a LT needs when going against Jared Allen and Dwight Freeney. Any team that selects him will need a lot of patience to work on his technique and footwork.

Terrence "Mount" Cody (defensive tackle, Alabama)
-Rumored to have played at close to 400 pounds last season. He was able to clog the middle last year due to his size alone. The techniques he used in college will not work at the NFL level going against perennial Pro Bowlers like Nick Mangold and Chris Snee. If he had problems maintaining his weight in college how will giving him millions of dollars motivate him to keep it down in the NFL? He seemed to develop into a media creation last season which has made many think he is a better player then he actually is. He will most likely be drafted at the end of the 1st round or top of the 2nd round. That seems very high for a player who could possibly eat himself out of the league in 2 years.

Carlos Dunlap (defensive end, Florida)
-Has the build of Julius Peppers but fails to exhibit that talent on the field. Former Florida defensive ends Jarvis Moss and Derrick Harvey have been drafted in the 1st round in two of the last three years and both have been busts as to date. Dunlap's college career was inferior to both Moss and Harvey which leaves his NFL future in doubt. He was arrested for DUI the week leading up the 2009 SEC Championship game which was a major factor in Florida losing to Alabama. Such an irresponsible act at such an important time would lead one to be concerned about where his head is at. On tape he never stood out, even though he was surrounded by a lot of NFL talent at Florida. A team will look at Dunlap's athletic ability and think they can suddenly translate it onto the field.

Jason Pierre-Paul (defensive end, South Florida)
-Has unbelievable talent but only played one year of college football, starting only seven games. He is very raw and certainly could have used another year in college. Right now he is being pegged as a top 15 pick which seems awfully high for someone with such little experience. A classic boom-or-bust prospect.

Everson Griffen (defensive end, USC)

-Looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. An unbelievable physical specimen that never brings it all on the field. He is very inconsistent and takes plays off. He would most likely be projected to go a lot higher then the mid to late 1st round had it not been for Vernon Gholston from a few years back. The Gholston comparison is fitting because both players have similar build and both had the same concerns coming out of college. Never truly stood out on Pete Carroll's defense. Has the talent but must put in much more effort on the field.